I was thrilled to see the Vermeer paintings and the Night Watch by Rembrandt at the recently reopened Rijks Museum and delighted in viewing the amazing paintings at the Van Gogh, but the most fun museum in Amsterdam was the Museum of Bags and Purses.
My friend Sandra’s accessory weakness is handbags. She had never been to the museum and asked if I wanted to go. The Hendrikje Museum of Bags and Purses is housed in a stunning former home from 1668 on the Herengracht, one of the most prestigious canals in Amsterdam. Thirty years ago the owner of the museum, Hendrikje Ivo, purchased a small antique tortoiseshell bag inlaid with mother of pearl in England, dating back to 1820 and after that she was hooked, collecting over 3,000 bags. Looking for somewhere to show her extensive collection, Ivo started with a two-room exhibition space a villa and in 2007 bought the 4 story Herengracht house.
The collection is in chronological order starting at the top floor. The oldest object was a bronze Flemish clasp from 1420. Some of the earliest purses from the 1600s and 1700s were small and made of velvet or hand embroidered silk and used for coins for gaming. Another type was the Sweetbag, a perfumed luxury packaging for fragrant flowers or money and presented as a New years gift to the King. A silk bridal purse form 1725 has a Limoges portrait on the outside.
On the next floor were the 20th century purses and the history of how the industrial age changed the production of handbags. Another highlight was the Normandie leather clutch given to each passenger on the maiden voyage of the Normandie ocean liner. The novelty showcase was fun including the Judith Lieber cupcake bag covered in Swarovski crystals and the Diet Coke can bag. The collection then moved into the iconic “it” bags including the Kelly bag, the Fendi baguette and the Chanel quilted bags but surprisingly there wasn’t a Birkin bag. The last part of the permanent collection had innovative, brightly colored bags by mostly Dutch designers.
As if that wasn’t enough fun, that evening we went to the Bijlmer Theater near Sandra’s house to see a Marvin Gaye revue. The singer John Oldenstam did some authentic Gaye classics including I Heard it Through the Grapevine and What’s Going On, and when he sang Let’s Get It On, things got a little out of control when he invited a woman from the audience on stage and seduced her with his sexy crooning into unbuttoning his shirt.
Museum of Bags and Purses Herengracht 573 1017 CD Amsterdam
http://www.tassenmuseum.nl/en
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.
Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.
Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.
Tours cost 210 euros for up to 3 people, and 70 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com
Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour
